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manuscript cover

Starting at: $545.00

The left figure is Maitreya, the Future Buddha, Buddha of Loving Kindness , whose main practice was the Seven-Limbed Puja. This method for countering the delusions, purifying negativity and accumulating meritorious energy is an integral part of Buddhist practice. His hands are in the Dharmachakra, the teaching gesture, symbolizing setting the Dharma wheel in motion with instruction that leads to enlightenment. This position is symbolic of the first sermon given by Gautama Buddha following his enlightenment. His hands are held in front of the heart, indicating that the teaching comes straight from the Buddha's heart. Behind Maitreya is a large Tsebum, or "long-life vase", a jar in which the "nectar of immortality" is kept. The center figure is of Shakyamuni seated in the diamond position, with the right hand in the Bhumisparsha, or gesture of witness or touching the earth, used to summon the earth-goddess Sthavara as witness to his attainment of Buddhahood. The gesture signifies the state of enlightenment reached after meditating under the bodhi tree for 4 weeks and withstanding all the temptation put before him by Mara, the god of evil. In the left hand is the medicine bowl used to heal emotional and physical suffering. The most popular terrific protectors, a Mahakala, occupies the right end position. His left hand is in the gesture of banishing, while in his right hand he brandishes a phurba, or Khadga in Sanskrit. The flaming sword symbolizes the knowledge that severs and burns away the knot of ignorance in addition to keeping danger at bay. The back side has the 6-syllable mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, done in gold kyungbur, repeated four times. The 6 syllables are the famous mantra of Avalokiteshvara, which is sometimes explained as ”The jewel in the heart of the Lotus.” The first OM refers to Buddha’s body, speech & mind, as in possessing this oneself; the MA of MANI is a jewel or treasure, (wisdom/thinking). The NI of the MANI is the altruistic mind. PADMI is the lotus flower, the nature of reality of Buddha’s wisdom. HUM is the determination & resolution to acquire & retain these qualities. The frame surrounding the mantra is carved in a simple relief-fashion.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity, expanded iconography and images of the living Buddha that blessed it.

The art work on the manuscript covers has nothing to do with the books that they cover. They are used mostly a a protective weight to keep the pages flat while in storage in one of the many cubby holes in the monastic library, generally built along the side of the Assembly Hall.They are also used to keep insects out of them as the pages are made from the bark of a tree.